Free vitamins for mums and children

Free vitamins for all pregnant women, all breastfeeding mums and children aged six months to four years are being made available to help youngsters get a healthy start in life.

Hertfordshire County Council are running the project for any new mums who are breastfeeding and mums-to-be living in the county.

You do not need vouchers - the vitamin tablets and drops can be collected from any of Hertfordshire’s 82 children’s centres. So far this year, 7,931 children’s drops and 3,466 mother’s tablets have been given out across the county.

The scheme, which uses NHS Healthy Start Vitamins, is a partnership project funded by Public Health to promote healthier lifestyles to local communities. Hertfordshire Children’s Centres also provide a range of services to help families with young children to live a healthy lifestyle; such as breastfeeding support, information about healthy eating and physical activity.

The Healthy Start women’s vitamins are specifically for pregnant and breastfeeding women. They contain:

Folic acid: reduces the likelihood of the baby having spina bifida, a birth defect where the spine doesn’t form properly

Vitamin C: helps maintain healthy tissue in the body

Vitamin D: helps the body to absorb calcium and so supports the baby’s bones to develop properly.

The Healthy Start children’s vitamin drops contain:

Vitamin A: for growth, vision and healthy skin

Vitamin C: helps maintain healthy tissue in the body

Vitamin D: for strong bones and teeth.

Dr Alison Jackson, a Broxbourne GP, mum, and representative of East and North Hertfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “Whether you’re pregnant or bringing up a young child, there’s no shortage of health advice and products targeted at women and their children. Every mum or mum-to-be wants to look forward to a healthy future, and taking these free NHS-approved vitamin supplements is one healthy choice that’s now been made even easier in Hertfordshire.”